Evelyn Morin received her B.Sc. in Physiology from Physiology, University of Toronto in 1981, her M.Sc.E. in Electrical Engineering (1984) and her Ph.D (1988) from the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at University of New Brunswick.

Dr. Morin is currently a serving as Co-Chair of Undergraduate studies as well as a Professor in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering. Dr. Morin is also Cross-appointed to Kinesiology and Health Studies.

Research Interests

• biological signal analysis
• muscle activation to force modeling
• ergonomics and human performance

My research involves the application of technology to further our understanding of biological systems, in particular the neuromuscular system, and to better understand the negative effects of work, e.g. musculoskeletal injury risk, and how such effects can be minimized. This is done primarily through the measurement and analysis of biological signals, both intrinsic signals that arise from tissues within the body, principally the electromyogram (EMG), and extrinsic signals that are due to body motion and interaction with the environment, e.g. limb segment accelerations and contact forces. These signals are used to gain insight into specific aspects of human physiology and biomechanics. In my research, I collaborate with Dr. Keyvan Hashtrudi-Zaad and Dr. Michael Korenberg of the Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering and with researchers in the Biomechanics and Ergonomics Lab in the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies.

Current Research Project

Advanced Electromyogram (EMG) Analysis

The electromyogram (EMG) is detected and recorded during skeletal muscle contraction. In order to facilitate signal processing, the EMG is recorded under controlled experimental conditions - in general, a subject maintains a constant position (isometric) and constant force (isotonic) contraction in the muscle under study. During normal activity, however, muscle contractions are neither isometric nor isotonic and the resulting EMG signal records are non-stationary and dynamic. The objective of this research is to obtain better and more flexible representations of muscle function under different conditions. This will be done via development of enhanced EMG sensing technology, improved EMG calibration procedures, and use of advanced signal processing techniques. Applications of this work include more generalized muscle force prediction, analysis of muscle coordination and synchronization, and development of improved man-machine interfaces.

The Effects of Occupational Lifting

It is known that frequent and heavy lifting are risk factors for development of low back pain (LBP), which can result in lost productivity and have a negative impact on one's quality of life. Currently, there is no objective means of measuring low back loading in the workplace and thus the impact of frequent and heavy lifting on the job is not fully understood. The objective of this research is to develop an unobtrusive system to reliably estimate low back loading, both in the workplace and in a laboratory or clinic environment. The system will incorporate simple body-worn sensors and a dedicated software model to estimate lower back forces during lifting.

Journal Papers

Morin, E and Hashtrudi-Zaad K. Force modelling of upper limb biomechanics using ensemble fast orthogonal search on high density electromyography, IEEE Trans Neural Sys Rehab Eng, DOI: 10.1109/TNSRE.2016.2515087 (Early access), 2016.

Hashemi, J, Morin, E, Mousavi, P and Hashtrudi-Zaad, K. Enhanced dynamic EMG-force estimation through calibration and PCI modelling. IEEE Trans Neural Sys Rehab Eng, 23(1):41-50, 2015.

Hashemi, J, Morin, E, Mousavi, P and Hashtrudi-Zaad, K. Enhanced dynamic EMG-force estimation through calibration and PCI modelling. J. Electromyogr. Kinesiol., 23:416-424, 2013.

Hashemi, J., Morin, E., Mousavi, P., Mountjoy, K. and Hashtrudi-Zaad, K. EMG-Force modeling using parallel cascade identification, J. Electromyogr. Kinesiol., 22: 469-477, 2012. DOI: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2011.10.012

Mountjoy, K.C., Morin, E. and Hashtrudi-Zaad, K. Use of the Fast Orthogonal Search method to estimate optimal joint angle for upper limb Hill-muscle models, IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng., 57: 790-798, 2010.

Bryant J.T., Stevenson, J.M., Bossi L.L., Reid, S.A., Pelot, R.P., Morin, E.L. Optimizing Load Carriage Systems, Ergonomics in Design, 12(1): 12-17, 2004.

Clancy, E.A., Morin, E.L. and Merletti, R. Sampling, noise-reduction and amplitude estimation issues in surface electromyography, J. Electromyogr. Kinesiol., 12(1):1-16, 2002.

Book Chapter

Morin, E.L. Myoelectric Signal Processing. Akay, M. (ed.) Encyclopedia of Biomedical Engineering, Wiley & Sons, 2006.

Selected Conference Papers

Hashemi, J., Morin, E., Hashtrudi-Zaad, K., and Mousavi, P. A Novel Sensor System for Improved Muscle Function Analysis, Military Veterans Health Research Forum, 2012.

Hashemi, J., Morin, E., Mousavi, P. and Hashtrudi-Zaad, K. Enhanced multi-site EMG-force estimation using contact pressure, 34th IEEE Eng. Med. Biol. Conf., San Diego, CA, Aug. 2012.

Morin E., Reid, S.A. and Onwugbufor, C. The effect of head tilt on low-level, dynamic sternocleidomastoid activation, Can. Soc. Biomech. Conf., Vancouver, BC, June, 2012.

Hashemi, J., Morin, E., Mousavi, P. and Hashtrudi-Zaad, K. Joint angle based EMG amplitude calibration, 33rd IEEE Eng. Med. Biol. Conf., Boston, MA, p. 4439-4442, 2011.

Chan, W-Y.C., Almosnino, S. and Morin E. Wavelet frequency temporal relative phase pattern analysis for intermuscular synchronization of dynamic surface EMG signals, 33rd IEEE Eng. Med. Biol. Conf., Boston, MA, p. 5032-5035, 2011.

Hashemi, J., Hashtrudi-Zaad, K., Morin, E. and Mousavi, P. Dynamic modeling of EMG-force relationship using parallel cascade identification, 32nd IEEE Eng. Med. Biol. Conf., Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2010.

Mountjoy, K., Morin, E. and Hashtrudi-Zaad, K. Contraction-based variations in upper limb EMG-force models under isometric conditions, 31st IEEE Eng. Med. Biol. Conf., 2955-2959, Minneapolis, MN, 2009.

Andrews, A., Morin, E. and McLean, L. Optimal electrode configurations for finger movement classification using EMG, 31st IEEE Eng. Med. Biol. Conf., 2987-2990, Minneapolis, MN, 2009.

Mountjoy, K.C., Hashtrudi-Zaad, K. and Morin, E.L. Fast orthogonal search method to estimate upper arm Hill-based muscle model parameters, 30th IEEE Eng. Med. Biol. Conf., 3720-3725, Vancouver, BC, 2008.

Mountjoy, K., Morin, E., Moradi, M. and Hashtrudi-Zaad, K. Use of Hill-type muscle models in the fast orthogonal search algorithm for wrist force estimation, Int. Soc. Electrophysiol. Kinesiol. Conf., Niagara Falls, ON, 2008.

Moradi, M., Hashtrudi-Zaad, K., Mountjoy, K., and Morin, E. An EMG-based force control system for prosthetic arms, Can. Conf. Elec. Comp. Eng., Niagara Falls, ON, 2008.

Chan, S. and Morin, E. The use of EMG for load prediction during manual lifting, 30th Can. Med. Biol. Eng. Conf., Toronto, ON, 2007.

Stevenson, J.M., Abdoli-E M., Agnew, M.J., Bryant, J.T., Morin, E.L., Godwin, A.A., Lotz, C. Effectiveness of an on-body personal lift assistive device, Industrial Accident Prevention Assoc., Toronto, ON, 2007.

Morin, E.L., Cole, A., Hare, C. and Stevenson, J.M. Static and dynamic forward lean angles during backpack load carriage. 29th Can. Med. Biol. Eng. Conf., Vancouver, BC, 2006.

Hare, C. and Morin E. Identification of Gait Parameters from Upper Body Accelerations, 29th Can. Med. Biol. Eng. Conf., Vancouver, BC, 2006.

Teaching

• ELEC 811 - Biological Signal Analysis
• CBME 801 - Topics in Biomedical Engineering
• Visiting Professor, Tecnun, University of Navarra, Spain, Fall 2013